Fork.



W. H. FLOOD.

4 F R APPLICATION FILED IAN-29. 916.

1,202,984. Patented Oct. 31. 1916.

IWGIZZO? 13 William/ EJ210063,

WILLIAM HAROLD FLOOD, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FORK.

Specification of Letters Pater t.

Patented Oct. 31, 1916.

Application filed January 29, 1916. Serial No. 75,164.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HAROLD FLooo, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Forks, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in forks provided with ejectors by means of which vegetables or other articles impaled upon the tines of the fork may be readily ejected therefrom.

The object of my invention is to provide a fork formed of a single piece of metal, with an ejector which may also be formed of a single piece of metal and which shall comprise an arm extending longitudinally of the fork and having means formed thereon which shall connect the respective end portions of the arm to the fork handle and to the fork tines in such a manner that both ends of the ejector shall be prevented from being displaced from the fork by the accidental bending of the said arm or otherwise, and so that the means connecting the said arm to the tines shall extend substantially at right angles to the tines in all positions of the ejector for proper engagement with an article on the fork tines while the article is being ejected therefrom, and so that the ejecting means may be projected outwardly beyond the free ends of the fork tines to insure the dislodgment of the article being ejected. Accordingly, my invented device consists of the elements and the combinations of them hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure 1 is a back view of a fork provided with my improved ejector. Fig. 2 is a side view thereof showing the normal position of the ejector by full lines and the position to which it may be moved in ejecting an article from the fork by dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a front view of the fork and the ejector. Fig. 4 is a transverse section, on line 44 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 2 designates a fork which may be of any suitable shape and size for its intended purpose and which comprises a handle 3 and tines 5. Mounted on the fork 2 is the ejector which comprises an arm 7, side lugs 8 on one end portion of the arm, and a plate 9 on the other end portion of the arm, all parts of the ejector 6 being formed of a single piece of metal. The side lugs 8 are bent to embrace the handle in a manner to prevent one end of the ejector from being displaced from the fork in all directions at right angles thereto, and to permit the ejector to slide longitudinally of the fork. The plate 9 is bent to extend at an angle to the arm 7 and it surrounds or enibraces the tines 5 and is slidably fitted thereto in a manner to permit the ejector to be moved longitudinally of the fork and to prevent the end of the arm 7 carrying the plate 9 from being displaced from the tines 5 or the fork 2 in all directions at right angles thereto. The end portion of the arm 7 carrying the lugs 8 is bent outwardly from the fork handle 3 to form a suitable lip 10 which may be engaged by the finger of a person using the fork to move the ejector from the full line position to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, and back again. The plate 9 is connected at its central portion to the arm 7, and the end portions of the plate 9 are bent back to form arms 11, and they are then bent to form outwardlyextending parts 12 which are held spaced from the main or central portion of the plate 9 by the arms 11, the parts 12 embracing the outermost tines 5, as shown. This construction permits the central portion of the plate 9 to be projected outwardly beyond the free ends of the tines 5 when the ejector 6 is moved to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2, to insure the dislodgment of an article from the tines 5, while the parts 12 of the plate 9 remain in engagement with the tines 5 to hold the plate 9 in place and to guide it back to the normal or full line position.

The plate 9 extends substantially at right angles to the tines 5; and, as the plate is rigid on the arm 7 the plate 9 is maintained substantially at right angles to the tines 5 in all positions of the ejector 6 for the proper engagement of the outer face of the plate 9 with the article being ejected from the tines 5, as the ejector is moved from the full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2.

The fork handle 3 is provided with suitable shoulders 13 which are engaged by the lugs 8 to limit the movement of the ejector 6 when it reaches the dotted line position shown in Fig. 2; and the enlarged end of the handle 3 forms a stop which is engaged by the lugs 8 to limit the movement of the ejector 6 when it reaches the normal or full line position shown in Fig. 2

I claim:

1.. The combination with a fork comprising a handle and tines, of an ejector comprising an arm extending longitudinally of the fork and slidably fitted thereto, and a plate extending transversely across the tines and having its central portions attached to the arm and having its end portions bent ing a handle and tines, of an ejector comprismg an arm extending longitudinally 0t the fork and slidably fitted thereto, and a plate extending transversely across the tines substantially at right angles thereto and having its central portion attached to the arm and having its end portions first bent to extend rearwardly and then bent to extend outwardly, said end portions embracing the tines, whereby when said ejector is moved to a position in which the central portion of the plate is outwardly beyond the free ends of the tines, the end portions of the plate will remain in engagement with the tines to support and. guide the plate.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto aflixed my signature this 27th day of January, A. D. 1916.

VVILLIAH HAROLD FLOOD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

